The Butler weekly times., 1887-07-13
THE PRESIDENT DECLINES.
Mr.. Cleveland Will Not Attend
the National Encampment
A Frank and Manly Letter to Mayor
Francis Of st. LOuis-The Iii iiShest
Office Of the People Must Not
BE Subjected to Insult.

~. LOIlS, July t.-Iue lOhDNlhB
letter addressed to the mayor of this
city, who was chairman of the com
mittee of representative citizens of
st. Louis, who verbally invited the
president to visit this city during the
holding of the encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic, next
September, is printed in the Repub
lican, this morning, and explains itself
without further comment:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, July I, 1857
Hon David r. Francis. Mayor and
Chairman:
My DEAR SIR:-When / received
the extremely cordial and gratifying
invitation from the citizens Of ST
Louis, rendered by number of her
representative men, to visit that city
during the national encampment of
the Grand Army of the Republic, /
had been contemplating for some
time an acceptance of an invitation
from that organization to the same
effect, and had considered the pleas
ure which it would afford me if it
should be possible to meet not only
members of the grand army, but the
people of st. Louis and other cities
in the west which the occasion would
give me the opportunity to visit.
The exactions of my public duties ]
felt to be so uncertain, however. that.
when first confronted by the dele
cation of which you We're the head [
expected to do no more at that time
than to promise consideration OF the
double invitation rendered me and to
express the pleasure it would give
me to accept the same thereafter if
possible. But the cordiality and
sincerity of your invitation, reinforced
=. by the heartiness of the people who
, surround you, so impressed me that
: l could not resist the feeling which
, prompted me to assure you on the
spot that I would be with you and
the Grand Army of the Republic al
the time designated if nothing hap
pened in the meantime to absolutely
r. prevent my leaving Washington.
5 Immediately upon public announce
: ment of this conclusion, expressions
r emanating from certain importan
members of the Grand Army of th'
: Republic, and increasing in volume
and virulence. constrained me t.
review my acceptance of these invi
tations. The expressions referre,
/, to go to the extent of declaring tha
n 1 would be an unwelcome guest a
the time and place of the nationa
encampment. This statement i
D, based, as well as can Judge, upo
\ certain official acts of mine involving
Is important public interests, don
under restraints and obligations c
my oath of office. which do not az
IL pear to accord with the wishes {
e. some of the members of the Gran
'is I Army of the Republic 1 refuse t
believe that this organization. founC
nd ed upon patriotic ideas. compose
re, very largely by men entitled to las
" ing honor. and consideration. an
whose crowning glory it should |
that they are American citizens
: we'll as veteran soldiers. deems
part of its mission to compass Al
rth object or purpose by attempting
intimidate the executive or coer
those charged with making and eH
cutting the laws, and yet the EXPIRE
sions to which l have referred inC
rst cate such prevalence of unfriend
m feeling and such menace to the {
,ch casion which should be harmoniol
peaceful and cordial that they cann
/. be ignored. l beg you to understa,
that am not conscious of any ;
on of mine which should make me f
-. to meet the Grand Army of the l
nth public, or any other assembly